Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40583582›Full record

ArticleBJPsych open2025

Perceptions of Brazil's Bolsa Família cash transfer programme, life opportunities and mental health in the lives of young adults from the outskirts of São Paulo: qualitative study.

Paulo Malvasi, Sara Evans-Lacko, Eva Cyhlarova, Alicia Matijasevich, David McDaid, Cristiane Silvestre Paula

Abstract read
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Article in BJPsych open, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Observational
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Paulo MalvasiDepartment of Public Health, Faculty of Medical Sciences of Santa Casa de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
Sara Evans-LackoCare Policy and Evaluation Centre, London School of Economics and Political Science, London, UK.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4691-2630
Eva CyhlarovaCare Policy and Evaluation Centre, London School of Economics and Political Science, London, UK.
Alicia MatijasevichDepartment of Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine FMUSP, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
David McDaidCare Policy and Evaluation Centre, London School of Economics and Political Science, London, UK.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0744-2664
Cristiane Silvestre PaulaHuman Developmental Sciences Graduate Program, and Mackenzie Center for Research in Childhood and Adolescence, Mackenzie Presbyterian University, São Paulo, Brazil.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0438-9407

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgoundCash transfer programmes (CTPs) provide financial support to alleviate poverty and promote economic stability. The Bolsa Família Programme (BFP), a Brazilian initiative and the world's largest CTP by number of beneficiaries, aims to improve living conditions. While poverty is closely linked to poor mental health, evidence regarding the specific effects of CTPs on young adults' mental health remains limited, underscoring the need for further research.

aimsTo understand the meaning attributed to the BFP by young adults regarding their future aspirations and mental health, as well as perspectives from providers.

methodThis qualitative study was conducted at the outskirts of São Paulo city, involving 12 in-depth interviews with young adults aged 18-24 years and 2 focus groups comprising 17 health and social assistance professionals.

resultsThematic analysis identified four themes according with interviews and focus groups: (a) perceptions about poverty (hopelessness and lack of opportunities); (b) impact of poverty on mental health (anxiety, unpredictability and hopelessness as consequences of living in poverty); (c) young adults' needs and aspirations (job opportunities as the main expectation for a better future); and (d) BFP limitations and opportunities for improvement (BFP perceived as just one of the survival strategies but not impacting life opportunities for young adults).

conclusionsThe BFP was valued as essential for meeting poor families' basic needs. Employment opportunities were central to young adults' expectations, often causing anguish and anxiety. Expanding the BFP to include employment and income-generation policies could better support the mental health and life opportunities of vulnerable youth.

Indexed as

mental healthmonetary incentivequalitative researchvulnerable populationsYouth psychiatry

Identifiers

PMID40583582
PMCPMC12247056

What OpenQuestion holds

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.